Engine-starting mechanism.



ENGINE STARTING MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

19i hnomo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. JAMES, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ENGINE-STARTING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 9, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. JAMES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of Kingand State of WVashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Engine-Starting Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to devices for effecting initial movement ofexplosive engine shafts, and the object thereof is to provide simple andefiicient starting mechanism un der control of the driver in hiscustomary position or seat.

The invention resides in an improved organization embodying novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter set forth and succinctly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts throughout: Figure 1 is a side elevation in partial section of anengine starter embracing the features of my invention in such form asnow preferred by me. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig.1, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line 33 of Fig. 2,and Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side View of a motor carriage showing myinvention applied thereto with the parts adjusted for active operation.

Referring now to the drawing, numerals 1 and 2 indicate, respectivelythe frame and crank shaft of the engine, and S-designates my improvedstarting mechanism conveniently supported on a bracket 4 secured to saidframe.

The starting mechanism includes relatively slidable and rotatablemembers, as a slide head 5 and a spindle 6, having spiral drivingconnection one with the other, and releasable means as coupling parts 7and 8 for effecting driving connection with the engine shaft. The spiralconnection includes a ratchet wheel 50 rotatably seated in a suitablecounter bore of head 5 and engaged by a spring pressed pawl 51 mountedthereon. The wheel is adapted to slide on spindle 6 and carries afeather 51 fitting in a spiral groove of the spindle. Head 5 is slidablymounted in a rectangular bearing 53 of bracket 4 and engaged with aretracting spring 54 supported on said bearing, While spindle 6 has itslower end portion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 501,197.

engaged in a journal bearing 61 of the bracket.

The coupling part 7 is secured to spindle 6 and normally held fromengagement with its companion part 8, which is secured to shaft 2, bymeans of shifter mechanism including a lever 64 fulcrumed on bracket 4and provided with a pin 64 projecting between collars 63 secured to thespindle. This lever is preferably connected with head 5 for adjustmentto shift the spindle to carry part 7 into and out of engagement withpart 8. Such connection I have shown in the form of a wiper secured tosaid lever and normally engaged in an angular extension, as 56 of alongitudinally extending groove 55 of head 5.

The coupling parts 7 and 8 are conven iently in the form of bevel gears,whereby direct connection between shaft 2 and spindle 6 may be effectedwith the latter extending obliquely to the shaft as shown.

While other provision may be made for operating head 5 I have shown thesame provided with an end extension 5 projecting upwardly adjacent theseat of the carriage for application of the operators foot to press thehead against action of the retracting spring when desired to start theengine. Primary downward movement of head 5 swings lever 64:, byengagement of the upper wall of extension 56 with wiper 65, to shiftspindle 6 longitudinally and thereby engage coupling part 7 with part 8.Further movement of the head will therefore be transmitted to rotateshaft 2 through the medium of wheel 50 which is held by pawl 51 tostraight line movement with its feather bearing in groove 60 of thespindle. Then the engine starts the spindle will be advanced in rotationand carry the ratchet wheel therewith, while spring 54, released byremoval of the operators foot, retracts the head with said wheel andfinally effects reverse operation of lever 64: to elevate the spindle byengagement of the lower wall of extension 56 with wiper 65. Should theengine fail to start during the first application, retractive action ofthe spring may be limited, by pressure of the foot against head 5, toprevent reverse operation of the shifter lever and a second activeoperation effected by downward movement of the foot without opening thecoupling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is:

1. An engine starting appliance comprising in combination with theengine shaft, a rotatably supported member, companion coupling partssecured to said member and shaft, said member being shiftable to coupleand uncouple said parts, a slide member having spiral driving connectionwith said first member, and shifter mechanism connected with saidmember.

2. An engine starting appliance comprising in combination with theengine shaft, :1 rotatably supported member, companion coupling partsconnected with said member and shaft, said member being shiftable tocoup]: and uncouple said parts, a slidably supported member, a ratchetdevice carried by said last member having spiral driving connection withsaid first member, and means for shifting said first member by movementof said slide member.

in engine starting appliance comprising in combination with the engineshaft, a rotatable member supported in angular relation to said shaft,means connected with said member and the shaft for coupling the same, aslidably supported member movable longitudinally of said first member,and a ratchet spiral driving connection between said members.

l. An engine starting appliance comprising in combination with theengine shaft, a rotatable member supported in angular relation to saidshaft, releasable means connected with said member and the shaft forcoupling the same, a slidably supported member movable longitudinally ofsaid first member and yieldingly held in retracted position, a ratchetspiral driving connection between said members, and means wherebymovements of said slidably supported member couples and uncouples saidcoupling means.

5. An engine starting appliance comprising in combination with theengine shaft, a rotatable member supported in angular relation to saidshaft, companion coupling parts secured to said member and shaft, saidmember being shiftable to couple and uncouple said parts, a slidablysupported member movable longitudinally of said first member andyieldingly held in retracted position, means connecting said members forshifting the rotatable member by movement of the slidablc member, and aratchet spiral driving connection between said members.

Signed at Seattle, .Vashington this etth day of June 1909.

FRANK 1). JAMES.

Witnesses H. B. SOHEITLIN, V. G. VIssEn.

